top of page

Is Supply Chain a competitive Advantage?


A survey was made on 1998, respondents ranked supply chain management as essential to success. Supply Chain was often thought as the management of supplies or suppliers. Critics thought as supply chain management is the old wine of “supplier management” poured into a colourful bottle.


In era of IoT and Block Chain, supply chain management is a collaborative, digitally supportive, cross-enterprise operating strategy that aligns the flow of incoming materials, manufacturing, and downstream distribution in a manner responsive to changes in customer demand without creating surplus inventory. Moreover, supply chain management is a competitive approach that integrates a network of operating entities into a delivery system that enhances customer value and satisfaction and that protects the competitiveness of the entire supply chain.


Last two decades, the approach adopted for managing the supply chain as a loose collection of independent segments, also referred as traditional approach. Each segment concerned with achieving its own objectives regardless of the effect on other segments, squanders the promised benefits of cross functional supply chain management.


A leading reason for the traditional approach’s failure is its reliance on cost effectiveness systems that emphasize the minimization of controllable costs. Having recognized this, some companies have successfully mitigated the effects by increasing the velocity and visibility.


To be successful in competitive environment, companies has to think beyond internal economics of activity costs. It has been proven fact that internal economics fails to address the issue of how supply chains can improve customer value and satisfaction. To become successful in the intense competition with highly intolerable customers, companies has to learn importance of flow and ROA. When operations adapt agility, tends to demand driven with cross enterprise collaboration enabled, then supply chain become value added and competitive advantage.



Azhar Qadri

Supply Chain Expert | Operational Intelligence | Smart Manufacturing & Excellence | Supply Chain Optimization | Consultant and Trainer


MBA, BE, PE, CSSC, CPIA, CSCP CDDP, CSCM, CSCA

Trainer and Consultant - SMEDA

Executive Member - SCAP

A successful career in supply chain necessitates a never-ending thirst for knowledge and the most up-to-date supply chain skills and knowledge. Even though continuing education and certification programs can take time and money, they help get your specialized knowledge or skills recognized.


When professionals have training that other professionals lack, it distinguishes them and sets them apart from the crowd. Certification and master classes show that the professionals are committed to learning, excelling, and using best practices.



Featured Certification Programs

Certified Stores and Stock Controller (CSSC)

Certified Production and Inventory Analyst (CPIA)


Featured Mini-Master Classes

Supply Chain Framework and Strategy

Collaboration among Sustainability, Procurement and Supply Chain

Implementing 3PL and 4PL Strategies in the Value Chain

Supply Chain Sustainability with Circularity to Drive Profitability


bottom of page